Albania: Efi Gjika to Junior Eurovision 2018

Efi Gjika has won Junior Fest Albania 2018 and will represent Albania at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Minsk.

Sixteen artists took to the stage in Tirana tonight in the hopes of representing their country at the upcoming Junior Eurovision Song Contest. The winner was chosen by a professional jury. The show will be broadcast by RTSH at a later date. Mishela Rapo, the Albanian representative in the 2015 contest and author of the song “Panorama”, streamed the show live on her Instagram account.

Competing in the show were:

1. Hera Hysi – “Melodi pranverore” (Spring melody)
2. Emmi Rushiti – “Mbremje feste (Celebration night)
3. Kristiana Veshaj – “Sot” (Today)
4. Efi Gjika  – “Barby” – Winner
5. Jasmina Hoko – “Happy”
6. Sindi Goga  – “Me tinguj fantazi” (With fantasy melody)
7. Iris Sula & Samanta Qoshku – “Çdo gjë do dashuri” (Everything needs love)
8. Era Rakipllai – “Panorama”
9. Merlin Xhai – “Bote e re” (New world)
10. Laura Boriçi – “Eshtë koha” (It’s time)
11. Iris Dollani – “Ylberi im” (My rainbow)
12. Sajana Kodheli – “Ylim” (My star)
13. Ana Kodra – “Prindër ju lutem” (Parent, please)
14. Melodian Mancala  – “Enderroj” (I dream)
15. Speranca Bregasi – “Ditari” (Diary)
16. Uendi Goga – “Olellin dhe yjet i dua” (The sky and stars love)

Eurovision fans may have realised that Ana Kodra attempted to represent her country for the second consecutive time this year, after she took part in the 2017 contest in Tbilisi with her song “Don’t Touch My Tree”.

Posted by:Neil Farren

Neil is from Ireland and has been an editor for Eurovoix since May 2017. He has been following the Eurovision Song Contest since 2005. He also follows other Eurovision contests, such as the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, which he has watched since the very first edition in 2003.